Making A Difference: CRC offers advocacy, empowerment

Have you ever needed help but didn’t know where to turn to get it? You’re certainly not alone. That happens to many of us from time to time. And that’s why Collier Resource Center (CRC) was founded, to help connect us with community resources.

Nina Gray, a retired nonprofit CEO, pulled a group of nonprofit professionals together in January of 2015. “We shared the vision of wanting to improve the quality of life for Collier County residents,” Gray told me. “After seeing people struggle to navigate the maze of health and human services organizations, I promised myself I’d do something about it when I retired, and I did.”

Gray pointed out that “CRC’s board members are all passionate about offering clients information, education, navigation, advocacy and empowerment. And our part-time employee and volunteer teams are dedicated to our mission,” she added.

CRC Board Member John Fletcher, a local attorney, clearly saw the need when he started volunteering. “For many of us it’s easy to pull out a smart phone and find exactly what we need in moments, but that’s not the case for many of the underserved in our community. Navigating the often-complicated process of receiving public or private assistance is not an easy task,” he emphasized.

Barriers CRC clients face are financial constraints, a lack of safe and affordable housing or reliable transportation, English language proficiency, no access to a computer, no computer skills as well as what Gray called “pride and fear. We are seeing an increase in seniors who need housing assistance because their monthly income from Social Security is $650 or less. And 75 percent of our clients are women seeking help for the entire family. They are dedicated to improving the lives of their parents, spouses, children and extended family,” Gray added.

“Living in Naples, where we are surrounded by beauty, it’s easy to lose sight of the members of our community who live with less than they need,” CRC Client Advocate Volunteer Barbara Desanzo suggested. “I find that many times the best resource for our clients is to listen with compassion,” she added.

CRC client Trudy M. is so thankful that they listened to her. “They didn’t give up on me. They kept searching and researching until they found a solution to my problem. Now I am crying tears of joy,” she exclaimed.

Another client, Brittany L. was in nursing school and struggling to pay her rent and cover the cost of child care. CRC helped her find subsidized daycare which enabled her to use the money she did have to pay rent. “I didn’t know how to get from A to Z, but you did,” she told her CRC client advocate volunteer.

Yet another client, Emma J. was very appreciative of the assistance provided. “My trailer floor rotted out and I was really afraid snakes would get in. CRC found a church group who made the repairs and they even paid for the materials. I am so relieved,” she said.

There is no charge for CRC’s services, and all services are strictly confidential.

CRC does what it does with support from the Healthcare Network of Southwest Florida which provides office space. Gray said that “they also give us a presence in their other 20 sites where they offer medical, dental and behavioral health services. We add the human services component which enables their staff to focus exclusively on health care,” Gray explained.

So, if you love to help people, and think volunteering with CRC might be a good fit for you, simply visit www.collierresourcecenter.org. And if you need assistance, call 239-434-2030, or send an email to info@collierresourcecenter.org.